Independents to be briefed by the head of Treasury
Updated
An inconclusive general election last month, means the three Independent MPs who'll decide which party will form a minority Government, will be locked behind closed doors again today as they weigh up their options.
Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor will get economic briefings on Coalition and Labor election promises, from the head of Treasury, Ken Henry. The fourth independent, Andrew Wilkie is also still to decide who to support. Even once they've decided, there may be more hurdles for the new government.
Presenter: Samantha Hawley
Speakers: Andrew Wilkie, independent MP; Ian Sinclair, former National Party; Tony Crook, National Party MP
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SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Eleven days since the election and there's still no government in sight.
And now even the Independent who said he could reveal his decision by today isn't ready.
ANDREW WILKIE: I said some days ago in good faith that I hoped that by about now I would be able to make a decision. The reality is that it's going a little bit more slowly.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: On SBS television last night Andrew Wilkie revealed he has only half the puzzle.
ANDREW WILKIE: I have now received a detailed offer, if I can call it that, from the Prime Minister. I'm waiting on a more detailed offer from the Coalition Leader.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: He didn't give specific details but he says the Prime Minister's offer does go some of the way to addressing his demands for changes to poker machine laws and for more money for his electorate.
We know the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader have also promised parliamentary reform including an independent speaker.
IAN SINCLAIR: Well it's not the independence of the speaker it's the strength of the speaker. And the degree to which the speaker will be supported by Parliament.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Ian Sinclair is a former National Party leader and the former member for the seat of New England. The seat now held by one of the key Independents, Tony Windsor.
He's also a former House of Representatives speaker.
IAN SINCLAIR: I think it could be a plus but it's not whether the person's independent it's how they exercise their authority as speaker.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Ian Sinclair says the biggest test will come on the floor of the Parliament when a government is formed.
IAN SINCLAIR: On past occasions we've had people caught on lieu, people who have been sick, people who've had to go off to their electorates, people who for one reason or another have not been in the chamber at the time a vote's called, and it becomes an extraordinarily difficult process maintaining a majority and I think it's going to be very hard to maintain the majority.
HAWLEY: Now you know the constituents of New England well. Do you think they'd support a Labor government, that they'd support Tony Windsor going that way?
IAN SINCLAIR: Well they've elected Tony Windsor as they're member now for a number of occasions. I think a lot depends on how he performs with the new responsibility as Independent.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: So you think they'd stick by him if he did decide to support Labor, if he did decide to support Julia Gillard?
IAN SINCLAIR: Well it certainly would be a different prejudice to that which has existed for many, many years in New England.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: And do you think that the Nationals now can work with these crucial Independents given that there is some animosity there that there is some bad blood.
IAN SINCLAIR: With good will you can work with anybody and I think there's a lot of good will about at the moment.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: And as for the West Australian incoming National MP, Tony Crook, who's indicated he might sit on the cross bench.
TONY CROOK: I think all of us who get into Parliament have a bit of a sense that we have the prime ministerial baton in our knapsack.
SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The three key Independents, Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter haven't even begun negotiating yet. Today they'll be briefed by the head of Treasury Ken Henry.
The Greens are closer to cementing what's almost certain anyway that'll they'll be backing a Gillard led Government. The Greens Leader Bob Brown revealed that to the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, in a meeting last night.
